The gathering place

While building their retirement dream home on Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, Dan and Katie Doerr knew they wanted to focus their attention on the kitchen. To provide space for a big family (with six grandkids) and friends, their open kitchen includes a butler's pantry, a breakfast banquette with a raised fireplace and a large dining table that overlooks the water.

This and the following slides show how this kitchen is perfect for entertaining.

Easy prep with two islands

A key decision in the design: installing two islands. "When you have one big island, it often becomes an obstacle in the middle," says the Doerrs' kitchen designer, Dan McFadden. Two islands make food preparation easy for the host couple. One has a prep sink for washing and chopping produce. The other island's six-burner range has two ovens and a removable griddle (great for big breakfasts). A nearby warming drawer keeps multiple courses ready for serving.

The 48-inch-wide aisles leave room for guests and cooks to mingle. (Recently updated guidelines raised the recommended width from 36 to 42 inches for an aisle with one cook.)

Quick cleanup

Party cleanup is quick with a double-basin apron sink (that handles large pots) and two dishwasher drawers that separate fine glassware from dirty pans. Running just one saves energy on daily loads for the homeowners.

Focal-point hutch

A built-in, cherry-stained hutch recesses 15 inches into the wall so it doesn't intrude on workspace. The focal-point furniture piece corrals dishes, silverware and napkins in one spot for accessibility.

Another spot to gather

A walk-through butler's pantry eases traffic flow and offers guests access to the self-serve beverage center. And when everyone at the party ends up in the kitchen, this congregating spot keeps guests out of the hosts' main work area. The arched opening you see here mimics the curves elsewhere in the kitchen, including an arched doorway on the right, which offers another entrance to the pantry.

Multipurpose area

The butler's pantry features a wine bar with built-in bottle storage, glass racks and a raised wine chiller. The pantry also stores small appliances out of sight, keeping the main kitchen neat. (Dirty dishes at dinner parties often hide here, too.) High cabinets display collectibles behind decorative divided-light glass doors.

A large table for big families

A long, narrow custom-built oak dining table seats eight to 10 people. The 38x120-inch piece is just wide enough for place settings and candles, ensuring that meals and conversations stay intimate. The nearby island acts as a buffet-style sideboard.

French doors lead to a screen porch for outdoor dining, while transoms fill the dining area with sunlight.